15 Years of Commitment to Service

When FSA opened its doors in August 2004, the founding managers had the privilege of preparing to hire hundreds of talented and dedicated professionals assigned to the U.S. Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program Support contract FSA was created to execute.

Fast forward to 2019, and FSA has grown to have earned eight contracts and more than 300 delivery orders at 14 government agencies serving the federal law enforcement and national security communities. The government services provider employs more than 1,500 professionals at more than 400 government sites across all 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

For West Regional Director and founding leader Pete Nuñez, the early days of the company felt like a startup environment.

“We learned as we went, setting up business functions and processes,” Nuñez said. “Over the years the systems have matured, but what has stayed constant is the commitment our people have shown. It’s heartwarming to see everyone wanting to keep their communities safe.”

Tina Lucero, a supervisory records examiner/analyst based at the Drug Enforcement Administration Denver Field Division, has supported DOJ’s asset forfeiture mission for 31 years and says her job is still evolving.

“I learn something new every day,” she said. “I am contributing my knowledge of the program,” as her team tracks the status of assets involved in drug-related crimes or civil cases. “I’m proud to do my part so DEA agents can uphold the law.”

Darlene Polk, who began serving on the asset forfeiture support contract in 1985, was one of the earliest contractors after the current structure was put in place per the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. Polk still serves as an FSA records examiner/analyst in Arlington, Va.

“I love what I’m doing—contributing to public safety and getting to work with all the levels of law enforcement” that collaborate to identify, seize and disposition assets involved in crime, Polk said.

“To our customers, our people are just as much a part of the team as federal employees,” said Bill Griffin, North Central Regional Director at FSA.

FSA saw a major milestone in 2009 when it was added as a provider on the GSA Schedule 84, which includes law enforcement support services and more than 100 other national security subcategories.

“We became an even more vibrant company, allowing our customers to better utilize our services for investigative missions,” said Pete McCormick, a senior advisor at FSA who previously served as South Regional Director for 12 years.

FSA now performs on more than 100 different delivery orders under the GSA schedule and also counts the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture and Postal Inspection Service among its customers. Nearly 300 professionals hired at the company’s founding are still FSA employees.

Outstanding performance is a common refrain in the feedback FSA receives from customers and frequently results in offers for employees to work directly for the agency.

“I’m proud when one of our folks moves to a government position,” McCormick said. “We maintain our reputation as a source for highly qualified and experienced professionals, and the government gains the benefit of well-trained employees who know and care about their mission.”

The company’s 15th anniversary presents an opportunity not just to reflect back but to look ahead. Steve Mumphrey, who founded and still runs the security department at FSA, is mindful of the company’s legacy while facing forward.

“We are known for integrity, which is important because our people are entrusted with sensitive case information every day,” Mumphrey said. “I plan to be here for the next 15 years, and I know integrity will continue to be core to who we are.”